Musick, Repko earn seats on Greater Latrobe School Board, with incumbents Kozar, Palmer

Incumbent Heidi Kozar led Tuesday’s race for four seats on Greater Latrobe School Board, garnering 20.8% of the 19,421 votes cast, according to unofficial election results.

Also winning terms were fellow incumbent Bill Palmer (20.6%) and newcomers Merle D. Musick (20.5%) and Andrew Repko (just under 20%).

Incumbent appointee Cathy Saraff finished with about 15% of the vote. She previously fell short of gaining election to the board in 2019.

Tom Gockel, who failed to gain a nomination in the primary, waged a write-in campaign. Write-in votes, however, accounted for about 3% of Tuesday’s total, according to unofficial results.

Dr. Rhonda Laughlin will finish a repeat stint on the board in December. She was appointed to fill out the term of the late Steven LoCascio.

Kozar, 62, of Unity is completing her 16th year as a member of the school board, while Palmer is finishing his 12th year. Both represent Greater Latrobe on the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center Joint Operating Committee.

Palmer, 64, of Unity is the general manager of a construction firm.

Musick, 20, of Unity is a 2020 district graduate who is studying political science and participating in the Army ROTC program at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. He is a coach for the Greater Latrobe clay target team and is the son of school board member Merle L. Musick.

Repko, 58, of Unity is retired as major of the guard at a state prison and has worked as a district bus driver.

Sarraf, 62, is working part-time as an office assistant while caring for grandchildren. She previously worked as a Realtor and an administrative assistant.

Gockel, 48, of Unity, is a district bus driver and a residential program worker for a group home.